Question

What is abbreviated AC; a rapid and interrupted current, flowing first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; produced by mechanical means and changes direction 60 times per second?

Answer 1

AC, or alternating current, is an electric charge flow that reverses direction periodically, often at a frequency of 60 hertz. An ampere is the measurement unit of electric current, equating to one coulomb per second.

Step-by-step explanation:

The abbreviation AC stands for alternating current, which is the flow of electric charge that periodically reverses direction. This type of current is produced by an alternating electromotive force (emf) commonly generated in a power plant.

Unlike direct current (DC) which flows in one direction, AC alternates back and forth, typically at a frequency of 60 times per second, or 60 hertz, in North America. The current increases smoothly to a peak, decreases back to zero, then grows again in the opposite direction to reach the same peak value, and subsequently decreases back to zero to complete the cycle.

The unit of electric current is the ampere (amp), with one ampere equaling one coulomb per second (1 A = 1 C/s). In circuits, this AC current can be expressed as I = Io sin 2πft, where I is the current at time t, Io is the peak current, and f is the frequency in hertz. Alternating current is typically used for residential and commercial power due to its efficient transmission over long distances.